Mount Washington Valley welcomes Wounded Warriors

Families participating in the 2011 Christmas Can Cure program salute the flag during closing ceremonies in Jackson. (SARA YOUNG-KNOX/Union Leader Correspondent)

JACKSON - The Mount Washington Valley community will greet the families of Wounded Warriors Friday, for a Christmas Can Cure mini-vacation for the families of the men who so honorably served their country.

It's the fifth annual Christmas Can Cure in Jackson, and the opening ceremony and flag raising is at 10 a.m. at the Jackson town offices, with the closing ceremony and flag lowering taking place on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

In between, participating families will be able to take a break from their everyday lives and take part in all the activities, winter and social, that the White Mountains have to offer.

The group includes Army Spc. Lawrence Adams, his wife, Danette, and their three children; retired Army Cpl. Christopher Strickland, his wife, Mandi, and their son; Ernesta Kennedy, widow of Army Sgt. Joshua Kennedy, and her three sons.

Last year, the two Wounded Warrior families who took part in Christmas Can Cure went skiing, dined out, experienced the magic of Christmas at Santa's Village in Jefferson and rode the Polar Express, among other activities.

On Friday, each family will be presented with a proclamation making them honorary citizens of the mountain town, with music for the family provided by band members from Kennet High School of Conway.

Two flags will be raised by the American Legion North Conway Post 95 Honor Guard will raise the American and Wounded Warriors flags.

At last year's closing ceremony, host Andre Carrier of Jackson said there are many families who could benefit from the gift of time away for an early Christmas vacation.

"Maybe we can act as role models, not to be looked up to, but to be replicated," he said.

The Carrier family, which includes Andre's parents, Dr. Gerald and Delores Carrier, as well as their adult children and grandchildren, founded Christmas Can Cure.

Each Wounded Warrior takes home a flag that in turn gets passed to a Wounded Warrior the following year.

"We started a tradition with the first flags used in 2008 to connect warriors from one year to the next," Dr. Carrier explained. "They also write letters explaining what the Christmas Can Cure experience meant to them and to their families."

Those wishing to contribute to the nonprofit foundation can send checks to Christmas Can Cure, c/o Leslie Schomaker, PO Box 209, Jackson, 03846, or donate online at www.christmascancure.org.